Matchbook mirror and safety guard



ec. 9, 31952 C, H|| A2,620,920

MATCHBOOK MIRROR AND SAFETY GUARD Filed Nov. l0, 1948 F/GE.

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.. F/'GJZ JNVEN ToR. CHHELES H/L Patented Dec. 9, 1952 UN I-TED TAT E S PAT EN T OFFICE MATCHBOOK MIRROR ANDl SAFETY GUARD Charles Hill, Reno, Nev.

Application November 10, 1948,'Serial No. 59,370

(Cl.` S-33) 2 Claims.

1 This-invention relates' to novelty devices and in particular to one adapted for use in' combination with a book type match package.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a mirror and safety guard combination that can be used on match book packages to provide a number of advantages without increasing the size or bulkof the match package or entailing any change in the manufacture of the standard book type match: that is usually included in the purchase of cigarettes or cigars.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a novelty that can be applied to lthematch packagetand which hasv avariety ofuses, such, for

instance, as: to provide-an auxiliary advertising medium;l to provide 'a mirror thatV can be adjusted `foruse when thezpackage is' open so that women will have a mirror for convenient use; to provide a safety guard for the heads of the matches so that the latter are protected from accidental ignition, either by the iiame of a lit vmatch held closely thereto, as is the casev when the package is used as a wind shield in igniting a cigarette, or when the package is chewed by rodents or tampered with by children; to provide a cover for the heads of the matches so that the air space surrounding the matches is reduced to such'aiminimumthat it will `not support combustion; to keep the heads of the matches dry in damp weather; to provide a cover that will conceal the heads of lthe matches at the open sides of the package; to provide a novelty in the form of a guard or mirror, or both, that can be slid over the material of the package and can be instantly adjusted for use and at the same time bring into sight auxiliary advertising to supplement the matter on the package itself; and to provide a, device of the character referred to that can be removed from an empty match Ibook and positioned for use on a new package.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises certain constructions hereinafter described and then particularly pointed out in the claims, and a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front open view of a match book showing one form of the invention applied thereto and in position for use;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, showing another form of the invention in match protecting position;

Fig. 3 is a side view of a match book showing the protection afforded by the guard to the heads of the matches, the open position of the cover y2 and the raised positionof the guard beingr shown in outline;

Fig. 3A is a side viewio'f thel bookshown in Fig. 1, the open position of thecover; andthe raised position of `the mirror' beingshownxin outline.

Fig.v 4 is a view in Aperspective of oneform of the invention; Y

Fig. 5-'is a view in perspectiveof :a modified form of the invention shown in Fig; 4;

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of another fform of the invention;

Fig.' '7 is a-view similar to Fig.v` 6,. .showing a modified form thereof; Y v

` Fig." 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section on line 8-8 of Fig. 6; and

Figs. 9, 10, and l1 are enlarged deta'ilf'views showing a detail of construction and actionof a form of' lthe guard. Y

Referring to the drawing in'detail, I0 indicates a, match package, the book portion II ofv which may provide any standardY numberof -m'atches I2 whichare enclosed by the relativelyfoldable cover or front section I3 and the back section I4, to' thel latter of which'the matchbook 'II is attached by staplemeans l5.

My invention is not directed to the: Amatch package, but is used therewith and can vbe made to t the different standard sizes of book matches. As seen in Figs. 1 vandV 4, apiece of metal I6 or other suitable material thatwill provide a reiiecting surface sufficient for use as-a mirror is channeled as at I1 along the vertical side edges thereof so that the turned edges slidably embrace the edges of the back section I4 of the match package when the mirror slide is concealed behind the book I I. The outer surfaces of the channeled edges I1 may be roughened or knurled to provide a finger friction hold so that when the cover I3 of the package is opened, the member I6 can be slid upwardly -to expose the mirror surface thereof above the match book so that the slide can be used as a mirror without being detached from the match package.

In Figure 5 a slide I8, of any suitable material, is channeled as at I9 along its vertical edges and knurled as at 20, and has secured to the front face 2| thereof in any suitable manner, a thin mirror 22. As is the case with the slide I6, the member I9 can be slid up and down along the body of the match package to respectively expose and conceal the mirror.

In Figures 2, 3, 6, and 7 the slide is modified in shape to provide a guard for covering the heads of ythe matches I2, and in this instance any suitable material 23 may be used that will produce a mirror effect on the front face thereof, or plain nonreecting material may be used which may bear advertising to supplement that carried on the package. The slide 23 is shaped to provide vertical edge channels 24 knurled as at 25. The upper edge of the slide is turned over to provide a cap 26, the outer side ends of which are closed as at 2l so that a guard covering for the heads of the matches is formed. The material being of a thin flexible nature is somewhat yieldable so that the opening along the lower edge of the cap may expand to pass over and closely encompass the heads of the matches to provide air space within the guard which is at a minimum and will not effectively support cornbustion. The width of the opening in the guard can thus be slightly less than the thickness of the heads of the matches, and in the case of a cardboard guard, the latter will yield to slide over the matches and thus be effectively held against accidental displacement. The cap 26 may bear a striking surface 28 instead of the match package and, being hollow, will yield when use of the striker is attempted without putting the guard over the match heads.

In Figure 7 the guard slide 30 is like the guard 23 except that a thin mirror 3| may be mounted thereon in the event that material other than mirrored surface metal be used. In this instance the cap may carry advertising or a striking surface as desired.

In the Figures 9, 10, and 11 the capped portion 32 of the slide material 33 is so constructed that the guardwill yield to slip over the heads of the matches, as illustrated. To accomplish this the end closures or tabs 34 of the cap 32 are slit as at 35 adjacent the peripheral edges thereof about half way around the borders. The slits 35 are held closed by the flexibility of the material forming the cap and open to permit the lower edge of the cap to yield in passing over the match heads so that the guard is held against accidental displacement and the guard closes as the supply of matches decreases to provide an eiective anti-ignition means about the heads of the matches.

With the guard in place the match book can be efectively used as a wind shield in igniting a cigarette without danger to the matches of the package. The sliding guard does not alter the shape or size of the package, provides a hidden '4 mirror, and does not intefcre with the regular advertising of the match book. The material from which the slides may be made can be rendered reproof by any known process and the dimensions of the slide can be varied to fit any match package.

My invention is not to be restricted to the precise details of construction shown since various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing the advantages to be derived from its use.

What I claim is:

1. A mirror and guard device for use with a match package including a match book, a back portion to which the book is secured and an integral, relatively foldable front portion movable to alignment with the back portion when the package is fully open to provide access to the matches of the book, said device including a slide, channel means on the vertical edges of the slide for embracing the edges of the match package, a mirror mounted on said slide for concealment behind said match book and movable to a position to be used when the slide is moved from said back portion to a position on said front portion, said slide including a turned over portion constituting a cap formed at the upper edge of said slide for enclosing the heads of the matches when the slide is in position on said back portion, and closure means formed integrally with said slide and disposed at the opposite ends of said cap.

2. In a device of the character set forth in claim 1 in which the cap closure means is slit to render the cap expandable relatively to the slide for yielding passage over and close t about the heads of the matches of the match book.

CHARLES HILL.

REFERENCES CITED The lfollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,183,534 Campus May 16, 1916 2,284,174 Spicer May 26, 1942 2,515,072 Bennett July 11, 1950 OTHER REFERENCES Popular Mechanics, p. 38A, November 1937. 

